Vauxhall helicopter crash: Workmen saved by oversleeping

Two crane workers have told of their miraculous escape from the London helicopter crash, explaining they only avoided near-certain death by being late for work.

Richard Moule and Nicki Biagioni were hurrying to climb the crane in Vauxhall yesterday morning when a helicopter clipped the structure and plunged 700ft to the ground, killing pilot Peter Barnes and Matthew Wood, 39, from Sutton, who was walking to work.

Twelve other people were injured in the incident, which took place near Vauxhall Station at the height of the morning rush hour.

Commander Neil Basu of the Metropolitan police said: ‘It was something of a miracle that this was not many, many times worse.’

Amid freezing fog and poor visibility, the AgustaWestland 109 Power being piloted by Mr Barnes hit a high-rise crane at The Tower, One St George Wharf.

Mr Moule, 31, a father of two from Harlow, Essex, was due at work at 7am with his colleague Mr Biagioni, 30, from Ongar, Essex.

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

The scene of the crash

The scene of the crash

Helicopter crash

The scene of the crash (Picture: Twitter/Craig Jenner)

The scene of the crash (Picture: Twitter/Craig Jenner)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Helicopter Crash.jpg Sky TV grab by John White 16/01/13 Showing Crane that was hit by the helicopter

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013. A general view of the scene where a helicopter crashed in central London, after hitting a crane on top of a tower block by the River Thames. Toby Scott/PA Wire

Latest pictures of Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013 . Reports have been confirmed of a Augusta 109 helicopter crashing into a building crane early in the morning of 16th January 2013

Latest pictures of Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013 . Reports have been confirmed of a Augusta 109 helicopter crashing into a building crane early in the morning of 16th January 2013

Latest pictures of Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013 . Reports have been confirmed of a Augusta 109 helicopter crashing into a building crane early in the morning of 16th January 2013

Helicopter crash

Mist obscures the top of St Georges Wharf where the helicopter reportedly struck a crane (Picture: PA)

Mist obscures the top of St Georges Wharf where the helicopter reportedly struck a crane (Picture: PA)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

A general view of the crane on top of St George's Tower close to the scene where a helicopter crashed in central London. Sarah Grun/PA Wire

AY_101584675.jpg

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

A damaged crane is seen on the St George's Tower in Vauxhall, south London January 16, 2013. A helicopter crashed into a crane near a railway station in central London during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, bursting into flames and throwing plumes of smoke into the air. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: DISASTER)

Helicopter crash

The scene of the helicopter crash (Picture: Victor Jimenez/Getty)

The scene of the crash (Picture: Victor Jimenez/Getty)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Emergency services building arrive as smoke pours from the burning debris of a helicopter which crashed in the Vauxhall area, January 16, 2013 in London, England. The helicopter appeared to hit a crane attached to the nearby St Georges Wharf Tower before plunging into the road below during the morning rush hour. (Photo by Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Emergency services at the scene of the crash (Picture: Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Emergency services at the scene of the crash (Picture: Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Emergency services building arrive as smoke pours from the burning debris of a helicopter which crashed in the Vauxhall area, January 16, 2013 in London, England. The helicopter appeared to hit a crane attached to the nearby St Georges Wharf Tower before plunging into the road below during the morning rush hour. (Photo by Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 16: (BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE) Mist shrowds St Georges Wharf Tower after a nearby helicopter crash on January 16, 2012 in London, England. The helicopter appeared to hit a crane attached to the nearby St Georges Wharf Tower before plunging into the road below during the morning rush hour. (Photo by Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 16: (BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE) Emergency services building arrive as smoke pours from the burning debris of a helicopter which crashed in the Vauxhall area, January 16, 2013 in London, England. The helicopter appeared to hit a crane attached to the nearby St Georges Wharf Tower before plunging into the road below during the morning rush hour. (Photo by Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Emergency services building arrive as smoke pours from the burning debris of a helicopter which crashed in the Vauxhall area, January 16, 2013 in London, England. The helicopter appeared to hit a crane attached to the nearby St Georges Wharf Tower before plunging into the road below during the morning rush hour. (Photo by Victor Jimenez/Getty Images)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash

Vauxhall Helicopter crash

Smoke rises from debris as police and emergency services attend the scene of a helicopter crash in Vauxhall, south London January 16, 2013. A helicopter crashed into a crane near a railway station in central London during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, bursting into flames and throwing plumes of smoke into the air. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

A general view of the scene where a helicopter crashed in central London, after hitting a crane on top of a tower block by the River Thames. Max James Tolhurst/PA Wire

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Firefighters walk pass the section of damaged crane on the ground after a helicopter crashed into the crane on top of a building in central London, Wednesday Jan. 16, 2013. Police say two people were killed when a helicopter crashed Wednesday during rush hour in central London after apparently hitting a construction crane on top of a building. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Debris and a burned out car are pictured at the scene of a helicopter crash in central London, on January 16, 2013. Two people were killed when a helicopter hit a crane at a building site in central London and plunged to the ground on Wednesday, police said. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Debris and a burned out car are pictured at the scene of a helicopter crash in central London, on January 16, 2013. Two people were killed when a helicopter hit a crane at a building site in central London and plunged to the ground on Wednesday, police said. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Debris and a burned out car are pictured at the scene of a helicopter crash in central London, on January 16, 2013. Two people were killed when a helicopter hit a crane at a building site in central London and plunged to the ground on Wednesday, police said. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

Vauxhall Helicopter crash London 2013

The scene after a helicopter crashed into a construction crane on top of St George's Wharf tower building, in Vauxhall south London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday January 16, 2013. Two people died and nine people were injured when a helicopter crashed into the crane and plummeted to the ground. See PA story ACCIDENT Helicopter. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Vauxhall helicopter crash

London Fire Brigade handout photo of the scene in Vauxhall, central London after a helicopter crashed into a crane. London Fire Brigade/PA Wire

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Vauxhall helicopter crash

London Fire Brigade handout photo of fire damage at the scene in Vauxhall, central London after a helicopter crashed into a crane. London Fire Brigade/PA Wire

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Vauxhall helicopter crash

London Fire Brigade handout photo of the scene in Vauxhall, central London after a helicopter crashed into a crane. London Fire Brigade/PA Wire

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Vauxhall helicopter crash

Debris and a fire damaged car are pictured at the scene of a helicopter crash in central London, on January 16, 2013. Two people were killed when a helicopter hit a crane at a building site in central London and plunged to the ground on Wednesday, police said. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Vauxhall crash

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BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE: A general view of the scene in Vauxhall, central London after a helicopter crashed into a crane. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday January 16, 2013. See PA story ACCIDENT Helicopter. Photo credit should read: Angelo Bereira/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

AY_101602541.jpg

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE: A general view of fire fighters at the scene in Vauxhall, central London after a helicopter crashed into a crane. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday January 16, 2013. See PA story ACCIDENT Helicopter. Photo credit should read: Angelo Bereira/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

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A picture combo shows on (L) The Tower at St George Wharf development on January 15, 2013 and the same tower in the fog on (R) on January 16, 2012, shortly after a helicopter hit a crane at the building site. Two people were killed after a helicopter hit a crane at a building site in central London and plunged to the ground in a ball of flames, police said. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images

‘It was the first time I’ve been late since starting this job three years ago. I just woke up late. Call it divine intervention if you like,’ Mr Moule told the Daily Mail.

‘The first thing I did was call my wife Stephanie and tell her, “You’ll be hearing about this but I’m OK”. She gave me a big hug when I got back home.’

It is understood Mr Biagioni was only late because his four-year-old son, who normally wakes him up, slept in.

His wife Leanna told the Sun: ‘Nicki was at the site minutes before it happened. He gets a lift to a certain level and then climbs a ladder the rest of the way.

‘If he’d been climbing he would have died from the fall for certain. It’s too horrible to think about.’

Mr Barnes, 50, from Berkshire, had 9,000 hours of flying time and 3,500 hours in the AgustaWestland 109 Power.

James Bond stunt pilot Peter Barnes (Picture: Ross Parry)

The pilot, who had worked on films including Die Another Day and Saving Private Ryan, had been on a commercial flight from Redhill, Surrey, to Elstree, Hertfordshire, but asked to be diverted to Battersea heliport because of bad weather.

In the aftermath of the crash, pictures emerged on Twitter showing chaotic scenes of burning wreckage and vehicles charred by fire, with six fire engines and 88 firefighters later attending the scene.

Questions had been asked about safety after the incident, but sources said lights were fitted to the crane and had been checked twice on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Commons, prime minister David Cameron said he was ‘saddened’ by the deaths of Mr Barnes and Mr Wood.

‘The whole House will wish to join with me in sending their thanks to the emergency services for their rapid and professional response to this situation,’ he added.